Upgrading of pyrolytic lignin into hexamethylbenzene with high purity: demonstration of the “all-to-one” biochemical production strategy in thermo-chemical conversion

Abstract

High purity (>99%) hexamethylbenzene (HMB) was successfully prepared from pyrolytic lignin over commercially available γ-alumina based on quantum chemistry calculation and model compound investigation results. Our study is a limitedly available example of the production of high purity biochemicals and successfully demonstrates the “all-to-one” biochemical production strategy in thermo-chemical conversion.